Recipe Rursday: Easy Tree Bark

The recipe is actually called Crispy Chocolate Rice Bark, but Easy Tree Bark sounds funnier. Apparently this qualifies as a Weight Watchers recipe, in case you're looking to drop pounds (I've given up & decided that these are my winter cheeks). Plus, Easy Tree Bark only uses 2 ingredients:

• 12 oz. semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 3 cups (4 oz) crisp rice cereal, such as Rice Krispies®

Instructions (adapted from the WW site):
1. Sprinkle a large baking sheet with drops of water, then cover with wax paper. Set aside.
2. ...Place half the chocolate in a large glass bowl and microwave on high in 15-second increments, stirring after each, until melted. [A]dd the remaining chips to the melted chocolate and stir until all is fully melted.
3. Stir in the cereal until evenly coated, then pour onto the prepared baking sheet, spreading the mixture a little thicker than 1/4 inch with an offset metal spatula or a rubber spatula. Set aside to cool at room temperature until crispy, about 4 to 6 hours (or leave covered with parchment paper on the counter over night). Slice the bark into small rectangles.I'm not a big sweet tooth, so these are perfect for me - crispy & not too sweet!

Good Morning

Morning. taken, 2.4.09

The Costs of Consumption

In the Business Ethics class I taught last spring, I spent a bit of time talking about Walmart's "incredibly low prices". On the surface, low prices seem to be a way to meet the needs of the working class and those in poverty, who might struggle to buy milk, healthy food, or winter clothes for their family. Why would anyone, then, have a complaint about low costs or want to rein corporations, like Walmart? Isn't getting more for less money always the preferable choice?

Externalizing Costs: We could talk about the impact companies like Walmart have on local businesses, or the ethical problem of price gouging, or even the effect a corporation's size has on our choices (products barred or products carried). Instead, the behind-the-scenes process of "externalizing costs" seems to be the real problem, partially because we claim no responsibility for the damage it might do, but we support the process in our buying practices. When a company "externalizes the cost of a product," it means that the company does not charge us for the materials and labor that goes into the production of the product. Instead, we are charged less because the company passes the costs off to others, while passing the savings on to us. The company externalizes the costs by pursing cheap labor at the manufacturing level or in-store through its employees, denying benefits to employees or factory workers, or prioritizing the pursuit of profit over considerations of impact on the consumer, the workers, the environment, etc). While there's more to the story, of course, this is one of the points raised in the video, The Story of Stuff. I found it to be worth watching.

The video isn't offering easy answers or conspiracy theories about the government (if you listen closely), but it is describing a process and marketplace invisible to us as consumers. So, regardless of the ethical imperative one might draw from this description -- that we ought to consume less and more thoughtfully -- at the very least, we should consider the impact our buying has on something as simple as our own happiness, or on the lives of workers who make and sell the products we consume. Watch the entire video here, at http://www.storyofstuff.com

Consuming Less: For those who do see an ethical imperative here or believe that consuming less is a better and more socially responsible way of living, you are in great company. The topic of consumption & stuff has been on my mind a lot lately, because we've spent the last month packing our things (into an absurd # of boxes) and now are slowly unpacking. The questions for us are 1) what can I get rid of, 2) where have I fallen into the trap of getting rid of things that work fine, only to unnecessarily replace them with new things, and 3) how can I stop this cycle?

Chris and I have been regularly making trips to the local Salvation Army, where our sellable donations are offered at discounted prices in their family stores. Profits from the sales contribute to social services and employment opportunities they offer to the community. Donations that cannot be sold because of wear or age, should be donated to churches or shelters that can pass on the donations quickly and directly to those in need.

There are other options as well (suggestions from my friend Rich):

(1) Freecycle - A community-based forum (organized by city) within the Yahoo forums. Post something on freecycle and it'll be gone in no time. And it may be more dependable than Craigslist.

(2) Craig's List - On craigslist you can either sell or give something away (see: Free section). You can either post your item(s) & schedule a pick-up time, or indicate that it is currently curbside and someone will probably come to you and haul it away. Rich suggests watching from the window, I suggest therapy for Rich.

(3) Recycling Electronics: This may take a Google search, but most cities have recycling programs for electronics. In RI, we have Rhode Island Electronics Recycling, and for Ink Cartridges, Ipods, and Cell Phones this site will allow help you mail them in for free recycling: Recycling For Charities.

Peaceful Glaze

Today's share:
A gorgeous photo set from Kristybee.

Crazy Generous

These past two weeks I have seen a striking amount of generosity from the people around me. Elizabeth, who coordinates Street Sights, has welcomed me onto the staff and been generous with opportunities to help me find my fit. And the kind of work that I've been doing is the kind I would love to do for the rest of my life. I couldn't be happier or more excited about it. She's been a gift.

The people who I have met in the past few weeks, at Street Sights, at Tent City, at St. John's, and at the Coalition, are continually giving their possessions, food, time, and mental focus, to the people around them. I have repeatedly had homeless individuals sharing and giving me food, offering full meals, and offering chairs to sit or time to chat. Everyone I have met has been talented and kind. Not people who have talents but hoard them, trying to figure out how to make the most money possible with their skills, but people who are good at something or have something to give, simply give of themselves. I keep running into people who are not trying to change the world or appear socially progressive, but people giving out of impulse and fighting to improve the concrete conditions of their neighbors' lives. And across the board, the people who I have met in the last two weeks have been some of the least self-involved people I've met since in Providence.

On top of this, the friends we have here, and in some cases, people I barely know, couldn't have been more supportive and generous about our move to a new apartment. Chris' colleagues, and many of our friends, offered to help move boxes or heavy furniture and even help with packing (after driving up from Newport!). We were offered a break with extra tickets to a basketball game, a wonderful friend (also my new yoga partner) made food for us while our kitchen is packed up, and the well-wishes have been non-stop.

To be honest, I've found these last few weeks overwhelming because of the generosity I've seen and received. This kindness is the inspiring kind and it changes your day-to-day lives. Out of nowhere, overwhelming, and drawing forth gratitude. Thank you.

Recipe Rursday: Macaroni & Cheese with Cauliflower

Recipe Rursday originated from our plans to cook more often at home. Now we cook almost every night of the week. I pick up new recipes from Food Network or Epicurious, and Smitten Kitchen, Not Martha (links to recipes), and Real Simple come through my blog roll. Other recipes come from friends and family, including Jennifer's Quinoa Salad, which we've made 100x since, and Chris' mom's prep for Chicken Cutlets, which we use on eggplant (since we're pescetarians). With all the snow, this week we were craving comfort food and picked a new mac & cheese.

Macaroni & Cheese with Cauliflower (from Real Simple)
12 oz. multigrain elbow macaroni (we used whole wheat pasta, rotini)
1 head cauliflower, roughly chopped
4 slices multigrain bread, torn (or bread crumbs, we used a mix of the two)
1/2 c. fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped
3 T olive oil
Kosher salt and pepper
1 onion, finely chopped
1 1/2 c. grated extra-sharp Cheddar (6 ounces)
1 1/2 c. reduced-fat sour cream
1/2 c. 1 percent milk
1 T Dijon mustard

---Heat oven to 400° F. Cook the pasta according to the package directions, adding the cauliflower during the last 3 min. of cooking time; drain.
---Meanwhile, pulse the bread in a food processor until coarse crumbs form. Add the parsley, 2 T of the oil, and 1/4 tsp. each salt and pepper and pulse to combine; set aside.
---Return the pasta pot to medium heat and add the remaining tablespoon of oil. Add the onion, 3/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, just until soft, 5 to 7 minutes. Mix in the pasta, cauliflower, cheese, sour cream, milk, and mustard.
---Transfer to a shallow 3-quart baking dish, sprinkle with the bread crumbs, and bake until golden brown, 12 to 15 min.

Memorial Service

Today I'm working at the Homeless Memorial Service at Beneficent Church, downtown. The purpose of the service is to celebrate and respect the lives of anyone who died without housing this past year. Family members and members of the homeless community come together in memory of those lost. Details available at Beneficent Church.

UPDATE: Today's service was beautiful, but difficult. It was difficult to see a church filled to the brim in memory of way too many people who died while being homeless. 30+ names were read, but it felt like 3,000. I'm paraphrasing, but Rabbi Alan Flam said it well: "We are all members of the human family and because of that we have a responsibility to take care of one another."

The Providence Journal noted the service in their news blog (including a nice photo), and a brief video of bits of the service can be found here.

Christiansen's Milk

Providence, RI., taken 1.19.09.

On its way, for tomorrow: 3-5 additional inches of snow.

Fuzzy Red Love

This fuzzy red yarn, which I had forgotten about, is inspiring me with its cuddliness. I picked it up on sale, way back when, with the intention of working on a poncho for my mom (for those cold Rams games). I'll have to wait until next week to unpack the needles, but with this wonderfully cozy weather, I'm definitely going to start working with fuzzy red. Hmm. Poncho? Something else?

Caber-Reyes

Corny name, but a great gift for Jose Reyes fans -- thank you Craig & Rosie! Pitchers and Catchers...mid-February. Can't wait.

To tide you over until then? Bleacher Preachers debut their new season this Tuesday night from 5-7 pm. Tune in online and have a listen!

Snowy Providence 1: Capital Records

Providence, RI. taken 1.19.09

Boxes and Boxes and Boxes

Packing sucks, right? Is it weird that I love it? Moving, it seems, is just another opportunity to say 'we don't need this, do we?' and the shedding continues. 'Where does this go?' and then it either goes in one room of boxes or the other, or it goes in the giveaway pile. Another box taped up and we're one step closer to being packed up. It feels productive! Not the kind of productivity of work, but productivity nonetheless. Zen Habits would be proud.We're moving! ...at the end of this month. And we're both very excited about it. At the end of last month, Chris went lets-get-this-done-now on me, looked up places on CraigsList, made one appointment, and within 48 hours he and I were signing a new lease.

So far, this move has been our least stressful move ever! Maybe its because Chris and I have moved close to 15 times, our totals combined (college & grad schools hike up the numbers), and for this one, we know exactly what we're getting -- a place where we're excited to have our friends coming by again, a place with no need for hanging blankets between rooms or over windows, and a place where we both can work from home. For Willow, a fireplace to curl up in front of and for our pocketbooks, a bit of relief. It's not perfect, by a long shot, but it's perfect for us. More on the new place, post-move...